Art of casket ornamentation



Jan. 25, 1938. R. LARSON ART OF CASKET ORNAMENTATION Filed, April 30,1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fil'ad April 50, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 321:1..25,1938. R LARSON 2,106,595

ART OF CASKET ORNAMENTATION Filed April 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I W Iv I Jan. 25, 1938; R, A N 2,106,695

ART OF CASKET OHNAMENTATION Filed April 50, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 vPatented Jan. 25, 1938 PATENT OFFICE ART OF CASKET ORNAMENTATION RaymondLarson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gentral Metallic Gasket (10.,Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application April 30, 1936,Serial No. 77,187

12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the art of casket ornamentation andhas particular reference to certain new and useful improvements relatingto the combination of the ornamental elements therefor and thecasket-carrying handles.

Generally stated, the principal object of my invention is directed tocertain novel features of construction in ornamental plates and cornerswhich ornate elements are adapted to be secured to the side and endpanels of the burial container and which novel construction inassociation with the handle elements affords a wide range of variouscombinations in the arrangement or relative mounting of such plates,corners and handles to produce different artistic effects in design witha minimum number of standard parts.

An object of my invention resides in the construction of ornate casketplates and corners having integrally formed recesses constitutingsupports for the casket-carrying handles preferably cooperating withornate caps and tightening members adapted to secure the plates,corners, handles and caps, in different combinations, to the casket.

Another object of my invention resides in the construction of the ornatecorner elements with suitable ornamentation simulating a handle asextending around such corner element or between the recessed portions ofthe corner element to thereby produce an efiect of the continuity of thehandle as if the casket handle extended around V or through portions ofthe corner elements.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of the parts and membersshown in illustrative examples in the attached drawings, described inthe following specification and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of a casket taken on line l-l of Fig. 2 andembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the casket;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. showingdetails of construction of one of the ornamental corners and one of theornamental side plates and portions of the interconnecting handles.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a casket showing ornamental plates andcorners of a diiferent design but constructed in accordance with myinvention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showingdetails of construction embodying my invention; and

Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive show diagrammatically several of the Variouscombinations and arrangements which are afforded by my invention. 5

While the invention is shown in the drawings adapted to a metalliccasket, it is obvious that the invention may be readily applied tocaskets of other materials, such as wood or concrete, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claimswherein I intend to claim my invention as broadly as the state of theart permits.

The particular or specific designs incorporated in the ornamentation ofthe several plates and corners is not a part of the invention hereincontemplated as it is obvious that the designs and ornamentation may bevaried and that my invention may be adapted to such varied or dif--ferent designs.

In the illustrative adaptation of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3inclusive, the casket generally indicated by numeral l5 includes theside walls M and end walls l5 which constitute wall panels to which areattached the ornamental handle-supporting plates 16 and corners H.

The ornamental plates 16, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, each constitutea hollow or shell-like metallic casting, the marginal rim of the rearside being flattened for attachment to the wall panels as by bolts 18.Each plate It is provided, in its front face, with a horizontal passageIS preferably of a cross-sectional configuration suited to thecross-section of the handle 19 which extends therethrough.

Obviously, the handle l9 may be made of any suitable material or designor construction. I have preferred to illustrate the handle is as made ofcomparatively lightweight crimped metal having a reenforcing core IS ofwood.

The ornamental corners ll, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, each consist ofa hollow or shell-like metallic casting having a substantiallyright-angularly formed rear wall which is adapted to be secured to thecasket corner, as by bolts 2! Each 5 corner IT is provided, in its frontface portion, with recesses H adapted to receive the ends of the casketside and end handles l9, and the recesses H are preferably open on therear side of the corner piece 11 to facilitate installation thereof andpreferably also of a cross-sectional configuration to suit that of thehandles l9.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the supports for the handle IS in theornamental plates l6 and corners I! are disposed a spaced distance fromthe outside face of the casket wall for convenient handling of thecasket and the handle I9 is rigidly supported on such ornamental platesand corners, and, as shown in Fig. 1, constitutes a substantiallycontinuous handle extending around the casket.

It will be noted that the effect of the continuity of the handle iscarried out in the design of the corner elements by ornamentationsimulating a handle as extending around such corner elements or betweenthe portions recessed for the handle and this is an important feature ofmy invention.

The plates l6 and corners II, as well as the handles l9, are preferablydrilled to receive Wood screws 20 which rigidly secure the handles tosuch ornamental elements.

In the adaptation of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, thecasket l5is shown provided with cast metallic ornamental corners 22'andornamental plates 23 and 23 connected by the side and-'endhandles IS.

The ornamental plates 23 and 23 are of like design, matched to formright-hand and lefthand' pieces, so that when mounted as shown in Fig. 4the two pieces form a design which is symmetrical about its center line.

The plates 23 and 23' are provided with spaced openings to receive bolts24 for their securement to the casket walls.

Attheir handle-attaching ends, the plates 23 and 23 are provided withpreferably arcuate recesses 23 formed by the plate wall portion 23 whichis cast in spaced relation from the integral rear wall portion 23. Therecesses 23 are preferably formed of a cross-sectional configuration tosuit the cross-sectional form of the handle H! which rests therein. Aseparate cap 25 of suitable design is preferably provided and mounted onthe handle over the recessed portion 23 and a securing bolt 26,extending through the cap 25, handle l9, plate walls 23 23 and casketwall securely holds these elements in place;

The ornamental corners 22, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each consist of ahollow or shell-like metallic casting having a substantiallyrightangularly formed rear wall 22 which is adapted to engage the cornerfaces of the casket side and end walls.

At the side ends of the angularly disposed front faces, each cornerornament 22 is provided with preferably arcuate recesses 22 formed ordefined by the integral wall portions 22 and 22 and adapted to receivethe ends of handles I 9. The recesses 22 are preferably formed of across-sectional configuration to suit the crosssection of the handle IS.A suitable cap 21 is provided over the handle end and a securing bolt 26extending through the cap 21, handle l9, wall portions 22 and 22 andthrough the casket wall rigidly secures the handle and the corner 22 tothe casket wall.

Additional shorter bolts 28 are provided for securing the corner 22 tothe casket walls.

For purposes of continuity in design and simplicity of construction, Iprefer to cast the corner 22 with integral parts 22 and 22 simulating,respectively, the handle 19 and cap 21.

I have shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive some of the interesting and novelcombinations which are afforded by Various arrangements and mounting ofthe two ornamental units 22 and 23 and'the interconnecting handles H).

In Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive I show interesting and novel combinationsmade possible with the right-hand and left-hand patterns of the plateunit 23 and handles I9.

From the above description and attached drawings, it will be readilyapparent that there is present in the disclosure made herein, a novelart of casket ornamentation made possible by the novel constructions inthe relatively few ornate elements which are adapted to be combined invarious artistic combinations with the handles to produce differentdesigns in casket ornamentation.

The different designs shown in the illustrations in Figs. 6 to 9inclusive, include a standard handle combined with the two differentlyarranged units 22 and 23. Only two standard castings are required forthe corner and plate elements, since the right and left hand units 23and 23 are actually the same casting but being re- Versedly mountedrelatively to each other.

In the several different combinations shown in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive,the standard handle is combined with various mountings of the standardplate 23.

It will also be noted that the different artistic effects in the designsmay be produced by use of the same design of unit plate mounted at thecorners of the casket and at the intermediate sections of the side wallpanels, as illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, or a harmoniouslymatched corner unit of different design than that of the intermediateplates may be combined with such plates as shown in Figs. 6 to 9inclusive.

It is possible that the centrally mounted ornamental plate shown in Fig.4 could be cast in one piece.

I claim:

1. A casket handle comprising an ornamental corner element supported onthe casket side and end walls at each corner thereof, a plurality ofintermediate ornamental plates supported on the side walls of thecasket, said corner elements and said intermediate plates havingintegral extensions adaptedto support a handle a spaced distance fromthe outer faces of the side and end Walls, ahandle on each side of thecasket extending from one corner element to the other corner element andsupported on the extensions of said intermediate plates, a handle oneach end of the casket extending between and supported. on theextensions of said corner elements, and means for securing said handlesagainst movement relatively to said corner elements and to saidintermediate plates.

2. A casket handle comprisingan ornamental element supported on thecasket wall at each corner of the casket, a plurality of ornamentalplates mounted on the side walls of the casket between said cornerelements, said ornamental corner elements and said ornamental plateshaving extensions adapted to support a handle in spaced distance fromthe face of thewall, and a handle on each side of the casket extendingfrom one of said corner elements to the other, said handles beingsupported on said extensions of said corner elements and said plates.

3. An ornamental corner for a casket comprising a cast shell-likemetallic body having a right-angularly formed rear extension adapted toembrace the corner of the casket, an ornamental design impressed on theouter face thereof, and recesses formed in outwardly disposed portionsofopposite sides of thebody adapted to receive ends of the casket handlesfor attach ment thereto.- I l 4. An ornamental corner for a casketcomprising a cast shell-like metallic body having a rightangularlyformed integral rear extension adapted to embrace the corner of thecasket, the exterior face of the body having an ornamental design moldedor impressed thereon and recesses formed in outwardly disposed portionsof opposite sides of the body adapted to receive ends of the caskethandles for attachment thereto, said recesses being formed on the innerside of the ornamental wall portions of the body.

5. In an ornamental plate for a casket, and in combination, a castshell-like metallic body having plane-aligned rear face portions adaptedto engage the side wall of the casket and an exterior ornamental facedisposed outwardly from the rear face portions, said body having arecess formed in the exterior face adapted to receive the casket handle,a cap adapted to be positioned on the outer side of said handle oppositesaid recess, and means for securing said cap and handle to said recessedbody portion.

6. An ornamental plate for a casket comprising a cast shell-likemetallic body having rear face portions adapted to engage the corner ofthe casket and an exterior ornamental face portion disposed outwardlyfrom the rear face portions, said body having horizontal recesses closedat one end and adapted toreceive ends of casket handles.

7. In casket ornamentation comprising a plurality of spaced ornamentalunits, said units comprising cast shell-like metallic bodies havingplane-aligned rear wall-portions adapted to engage a Wall of the casketand integral recessed outer wall-portions disposed forwardly of saidrear wall-portions, said recessed wall-portions being adapted to receiveportions of the casket handle, caps adapted to be mounted on the outerside of the handle opposite each recess, and a bolt for securing eachcap and adjacent handle and unit portion to the casket wall, said boltpassing through the cap, the handle, recessed Wall-portion, rearwall-portion and casket wall.

8. An ornamental corner for a casket comprising a cast shell-likemetallic body having a rightangularly formed rear extension adapted toembrace the corner of the casket, an ornamental design impressed on theouter face thereof, and recesses formed in outwardly disposed portionsof opposite sides of the body adapted to receive ends of casket handlesfor support therein.

9. An ornamental corner for a casket comprising a cast shell-likemetallic body having a right-angularly formed rear extension adapted toembrace the corner of the casket, an ornamental design impressed on theouter face thereof, and recesses formed in outwardly disposed portionsof opposite sides of the body adapted to receive ends of casket handlesfor support therein, said recessed portions of said body extendingoutwardly of the said outer ornate face of the body, and the outer faceof the portion of said body in the plane of said recesses being providedwith ornamentation simulating the design of the handle to produce theeffect of the continuity of the handle as extending through saidoutwardly recessed portions of said body and around the outer ornateface of said body.

10. An ornamental corner for a casket comprising a cast shell-likemetallic body having a right-angularly formed rear extension adapted toembrace the corner of the casket, an ornamental design impressed on theouter face thereof, and recesses formed in outwardly disposed portionsof opposite sides of the body adapted to receive ends of casket handlesfor support therein, and the outer face of the portion of said body inthe plane of said recesses being provided with ornamentation simulatingthe design of the handle to produce the effect of the continuity of thehandle as extendng around the outer ornate face of said body.

11. A casket handle comprising an ornamental element supported on thecasket walls at each corner of the casket, an ornamentalplate mounted oneach of the two casket side walls between said ornamental cornerelements, said corner elements and said plates having recesses formed inoutwardly extended portions of the body, a handle extending between saidplates and said corner elements and supported in said recesses, capsadapted to be mounted on said handle opposite said recesses, and meansfor securing said caps and handle to said corner elements and plates.

12. An ornamental corner for a casket comprising a cast shell-like bodyhaving a rightangularly formed integral rear extension adapted toembrace the corner of the casket, the exterior face of the body havingan ornamental design molded or impressed thereon and laterally alignedrecesses formed in outwardly disposed portions of opposite sides of thebody adapted to receive ends of casket handles.

RAYMOND LARSON.

